Meet Cynthia and Stephen

For over twenty years, I have served my clients’ needs in a diversified immigration practice that handles a wide variety of immigration cases, including family and business immigration, removal, asylum and VAWA. I am admitted to practice in the Court of Appeals of Maryland, US District Court for Maryland, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and immigration courts and offices nationally.

I also teach Immigration Law at Stevenson University as an Adjunct Professor,encouraging the next generation of immigration paralegals and future attorneys.

Are you a foreign national who is marrying a US citizen, or just trying to bring Mom over for a visit to see that new grandchild? I can help!

I proudly reperesent married couples of all types including GLBT. I represent individuals who seek to sponsor family members as well as those who have been abused and need help with Violence Against Women’s Act claims. I have represented clients in immigration offices and courts nationally including Baltimore, DC, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania, I will travel to help you.

Business Immigration Experience

Are you an employer or employee who needs assistance in navigating the H1B, L-1 and permanent residence process? I can help!

I have extensive experience with immigration for nurses and other medical personnel. I recruited for nurses in the Philippines and Nigeria for a major hospital client. I have traveled extensively on behalf of clients including travel to Philippines, Nigeria, India, France, Japan, Spain, Canada, and Mexico, and LOVE to travel to see where my clients come from.

Litigation Immigration and Asylum Experience

Do you seek protection from persecution?

Are you in removal or deportation proceedings?

I will review your case carefully and thoughtfully.

I can assist you before the Asylum Office and Immigration Courts in obtaining the best possible result, and have appeared in immigration courts and asylum offices in Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Texas.

My Background

I know the power of hard work and have an affinity for the immigrant experience. I was an emancipated minor, self financing and pursuing four college degrees at night school full time, while also working full time during the day.

My grandmother's naturalization certificate hangs on my office wall and I derive strength from her story and similar stories of escape from persecution to the land of the free.

I am a three-time graduate of the University of Baltimore, with a BA in Jurisprudence, MA in Legal Ethics and Juris Doctorate. In law school, I served on the Moot Court Board and as a Teaching Assistant and Supervisory Teaching Assistant in the Legal Analysis, Research and Writing program.

I was employed as a paralegal for fifteen years at several large Baltimore law firms in the areas of labor and employment and immigration, deciding that immigration was my calling. I was an associate with the Washington DC law firm of Judith Ludwic & Associates before forming the firm of Rourke and Rosenberg LLC in 1998.

Community Involvement

I have been a speaker at local professional conferences for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), have been an invited guest on the Tom Moore show, WCBM-AM 630 and the Ollie North radio show and have had many letters to the editor regarding immigration policy published in local newspapers. I was an invited guest on Our Human Rights, a cable TV show, discussing the Violence Against Women Act and Immigration. See ourhumanrights.net/download/index.html or watch me onhttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7267024613229835753#

Associations

Elected Member of Executive Board, American Immigration Lawyers Association, DC Chapter since 2009, representing over 970 immigration attorneys in Maryland, Virginia and DC, Past Chapter Chair

Named to Top Northeast Attorneys, Amtrak Arrive Magazine, November 2010 and November 2011

Invited Speaker, AILA National Conference for New Practitioners, October 2012 on Expert Panel on Naturalization

Stephen Rourke

Meet Stephen ----- Attorney, Actor and Theater Preservationist

Stephen R. Rourke has a varied practice, including immigration, family law and addressing the needs of business and non profits for the arts. He is also an accomplished actor, having appeared in community theater, movies and TV, and is a member of Equity and AFTRA.

He is experienced in serving as legal counsel to film makers and visual and performing artists. He is proud of his role in historic theater preservation, including service as Chair of Friends of the Biltmore, and current role as the Maryland representative for the League of Historic American Theaters.

Stephen is a member of the DC Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and has assisted clients in immigration offices and courts in the greater Baltimore and Washington region.

Stephen is a graduate of Oberlin College (B.A.) and the University of Maryland School of Journalism (M.A.) and School of Law (J.D.). He is admited to practice law in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington DC., and the US District Court of Maryland

You can email Stephen directly at attorneystephen.rourke @gmail.com

Our Staff

Nathan Rosen, Senior Legal Assistant has been with Rourke & Rosenberg since January 2005. Nathan is a graduate of Ursinus College and has recently completed a M.S. degree in Publications Design from University of Baltimore. He is well versed in the preparation of H1B and family based petitions.

Julie Zakar. Legal Assistant and Office Manager, has been with us since April 2011. She holds an A.A. in Paralegal Studies and comes with a diverse background of work experience.

IN MEMORIAM (2012 to 2016)

Taxi Cat. Office Cat. Taxi came to us from behind the office park where she previously freelanced. She was an integral part of our office staff, raising morale, lowering blood pressure, and keeping our client chairs warm. We will miss her greatly